3 days in Venice: day-by-day itinerary
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 9 of 13 free; 4 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 3 days, 9:30 to 17:03 each day
- Start and finish
- Bridge of Sighs → Burano
- On foot
- ≈ 57 min in total
- Transport
- 1 ride, ≈ 33 min
- Lunch
- around 12:51
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn. Pick a sunny day for the islands.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Venice09:30–16:07 · 6 places · 6 h 40 min
Bridge of Sighs
· 15 min · Free
- 3 min on foot
St Mark's Basilica
· 1 h · Paid
- 3 min on foot
Doge's Palace
· 2 h · Paid
- Lunch · 1 h
- 3 min on foot
Piazza San Marco
· 30 min · Free
- 8 min on foot
Rialto Bridge
· 20 min · Free
- 15 min on foot
Grand Canal
· 1 h · Free
Day 2 · Venice09:30–16:10 · 5 places · 6 h 40 min
San Giorgio Maggiore
· 1 h · Free
- 14 min on foot
Santa Maria della Salute
· 30 min · Free
- 4 min on foot
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
· 1 h 30 min · Paid
- Lunch · 1 h
- 4 min on foot
Accademia Bridge
· 15 min · Free
- 3 min on foot
Gallerie dell'Accademia
· 2 h · Paid
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
9 of 13 are free; 4 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 2 | St Mark's Basilica | 57 | 1 h | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Doge's Palace | 50 | 2 h | Paid |
| 9 | Peggy Guggenheim Collection | 39 | 1 h 30 min | Paid |
| 11 | Gallerie dell'Accademia | 37 | 2 h | Paid |
| Other 9 places | 10 h | Free | ||
| Total | 16 h 20 min | 9 of 13 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Bridge of Sighs. The famous enclosed white-stone bridge. The best outside view is from Ponte della Paglia on the Riva degli Schiavoni.
- 2
St Mark's Basilica. 8,000 m² of golden mosaics. Timed ticket; the Pala d'Oro and the horses' terrace cost extra. Cover up, no backpacks.
- 3
Doge's Palace. The Golden Staircase, the Great Council Hall and the walk across the Bridge of Sighs. About two hours on the St Mark's museums ticket.
- 4
Piazza San Marco. Venice's main square, with the basilica, Campanile and cafés with orchestras. Free; almost empty before 9am.
- 5
Rialto Bridge. The 16th-century stone bridge over the Grand Canal, lined with shops. Free; the fish market is beside it in the mornings.
- 6
Grand Canal. Venice's main street. Ride water bus no. 1 its full length, about 40 minutes from the station to San Marco.
Day 2
- 7
San Giorgio Maggiore. Palladio's church on the island facing San Marco; the bell-tower lift gives the best view of Venice. Water bus no. 2.
- 8
Santa Maria della Salute. The great domed Baroque basilica at the mouth of the Grand Canal. Free, with a paid sacristy holding Titians.
- 9
Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Picasso, Pollock, Magritte and Dalí in a canal-side palazzo with a garden and waterside terrace. Closed Tuesdays.
- 10
Accademia Bridge. The wooden bridge over the Grand Canal with the classic view of the Salute's dome.
- 11
Gallerie dell'Accademia. Venetian painting from Bellini to Titian and Veronese. Mornings only on Mondays.
Day 3
- 12
Murano. The glassmakers' island: furnaces, the Glass Museum and a 12th-century basilica. Water bus 4.1, 4.2 or 3, 10 to 20 minutes.
- 13
Burano. Colourful houses, lace and a leaning bell tower. Water bus no. 12 from Fondamente Nove or Murano, ≈ 40–50 minutes.
Who this route is for
- An unhurried trip to Venice
- You want the islands too
- Couples and families
- Torcello: optional, another half day
- The Lido beaches: a separate summer trip
Spring and autumn. Pick a sunny day for the islands.
What to see in Venice in 3 days
The first two days are the city itself: San Marco and the Grand Canal, then Dorsoduro's museums. Day three is the lagoon, with Murano and Burano 10 to 50 minutes by water bus from Fondamente Nove. A 72-hour pass covers every ride.
On Murano, start at a glass furnace, where many workshops show how glass is blown, and the Glass Museum. Then take water bus no. 12 to Burano, with its painted houses along the canals, a lace museum and a noticeably leaning bell tower.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, add something nearby, and the timings update.
Day three: Murano and Burano
Set off in the morning, as tour groups reach Burano by lunchtime. Two to three hours is enough for Murano and the same for Burano. Have lunch on Burano, a fishing island, with fish and risotto, and try the buranelli biscuits.
Head back directly to Fondamente Nove or via Murano. If you have energy left, stop at quiet Torcello with its 7th-century cathedral, five minutes from Burano.
More to see
On a fourth day, visit Torcello and its ancient cathedral, the Lido beaches in summer, or the Scuola Grande di San Rocco and its Tintorettos.
How to do it right
- A 72-hour water-bus pass covers every ride, islands included.
- Go to the islands early, before the groups.
- Churches require covered shoulders and knees, and large backpacks are often refused.
- Italy uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; carry a little cash for cafés and markets. Buy museum tickets ahead on official sites, where closing days are listed too.
- On Burano, try the buranelli biscuits.
Questions
What should I see in Venice in 3 days?
San Marco and the Grand Canal; Dorsoduro with the Accademia, the Guggenheim and the Salute; and the islands of Murano and Burano.
How do I get to Murano and Burano?
By water bus from Fondamente Nove: 10 to 20 minutes to Murano, about 40 to 50 on no. 12 to Burano.
How long do Murano and Burano take?
A full day, with 2 to 3 hours on each island.
Is Torcello worth visiting?
Yes, for quiet and history: a 7th-century cathedral and few tourists, five minutes from Burano.
How many days do you need in Venice?
Two to three for the city and another for the lagoon islands.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- UNESCO: Venice and its Lagoon (no. 394)
